Transportation management software (TMS) can help you optimize your logistics operations, reduce costs, and improve customer service. However, choosing the right TMS for your business can be challenging, especially if you don't avoid some common mistakes. In this article, you will learn how to avoid these pitfalls and select the best TMS for your needs.
Before you start looking for a TMS, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with it. Do you want to automate your processes, increase your visibility, integrate with other systems, or enhance your analytics? How will you measure the success of your TMS implementation? What are your budget and timeline constraints? By defining your goals and expectations, you will be able to narrow down your options and focus on the features and functions that matter most to you.
Considero importante tener presente 3 temas a la hora de evaluar un TMS. Primero debemos definir los objetivos que queremos. Segundo, debemos evaluar el ahora, en que estamos y como o que necesitamos para llegar a los objetivos. Y tercero, debemos contemplar la resistencia al cambio que vamos a tener por parte del equipo al aplicar nuevas tecnologías.
In Transportation and Distribution Management, begin by understanding Transportation Management System (TMS). It involves recognizing TMS as a process enabler, describing the platform using technology in streamlining and automating transportation operation, and allowing ways in gaining transportation benefits primarily, reducing freight expenses, tracking freight timely and accurately, increasing customer service, ensuring better communication, and improving efficiency and productivity. In practice, selecting TMS results in optimizing routes, employing RF/RFID and Barcodes, integrating with Global Positioning System, Warehouse Management System, and Yard Management System.
Knowing your goals is a fundamental perspective when selecting transportation management software. Clearly define your organization's objectives, such as improving efficiency, reducing costs, enhancing visibility, or optimizing route planning. Align the features and capabilities of the software with these goals to ensure that the chosen solution meets your specific needs and contributes to achieving desired outcomes.
Ensure that you're fishing in the right pond. Jumping to the conclusion that what you need is a (new) TMS will likely lead you in the wrong direction if, for example, the challenge at hand is actually related to generic workflow management. Begin by focusing on the problem, rather than immediately fixating on a solution.
When selecting transportation management software, avoid common mistakes by thoroughly assessing your needs, considering scalability, ensuring compatibility with existing systems, prioritizing user-friendly interfaces, confirming vendor support, and evaluating costs comprehensively, including implementation and maintenance fees.
Another mistake to avoid is to overlook your current transportation processes and systems. You need to understand how your existing workflows, data, and technology affect your logistics performance and challenges. How do you manage your orders, shipments, carriers, rates, and invoices? What are the gaps and inefficiencies in your current state? How compatible is your current infrastructure with the potential TMS solutions? By assessing your current state, you will be able to identify your pain points and opportunities for improvement.
Assessing your current state is a crucial perspective when selecting transportation management software. Evaluate your existing transportation processes, systems, and pain points to identify areas for improvement. Understanding your current state enables you to pinpoint specific requirements and functionalities needed from the software to address inefficiencies and optimize operations effectively.
Once you have a clear picture of your goals and current state, you can start comparing different TMS options in the market. However, don't make the mistake of choosing the first or the cheapest option you find. You need to evaluate each option based on several criteria, such as functionality, scalability, usability, security, support, and cost. You also need to consider how well each option fits your specific business needs and requirements. To compare different options, you can use online reviews, demos, trials, or references.
Debemos seleccionar una herramienta de TMS que sea adaptable a nuestra operatoria o modelo de negocio. A veces se toma la opción más barata y por lo general son muy básicos, por lo que se debe modificar la operatoria existente para poder utilizar la herramienta. Esto genera atrasos, desconformidad y la optimización con la utilización del TMS es inexistente.
Comparing different options is an essential perspective when selecting transportation management software. Evaluate multiple software solutions based on factors such as features, functionality, scalability, pricing, user experience, and customer support. This comparative analysis allows you to make an informed decision by identifying the best-fit solution that aligns with your organization's needs and budget constraints.
Another common mistake to avoid is to select a TMS without involving your key stakeholders. Your stakeholders are the people who will use, benefit from, or be affected by the TMS, such as your employees, customers, suppliers, and carriers. You need to consult them throughout the selection process, from defining your goals and current state to comparing different options and making the final decision. By involving your stakeholders, you will be able to gain their input, feedback, buy-in, and support.
Involving your stakeholders is a critical perspective when selecting transportation management software. Engage key stakeholders from various departments, including logistics, IT, operations, and finance, in the decision-making process. Their input and feedback provide valuable insights into specific requirements, usability, and potential impacts on different areas of the business. By involving stakeholders early on, you ensure that the chosen software solution meets the diverse needs and preferences of all relevant parties within your organization.
Finally, don't make the mistake of selecting a TMS without planning your implementation. Your implementation is the process of installing, configuring, testing, and launching your TMS. It can be complex, time-consuming, and risky, especially if you don't have a clear plan and strategy. You need to plan your implementation in advance, covering aspects such as project scope, timeline, budget, resources, roles, responsibilities, risks, and contingencies. You also need to communicate your plan to your stakeholders and ensure their alignment and readiness.
Implementing a proper TMS with full integration and automation of processes is no small feat. Depending on many variables, the timeframe from kick-off to go-live can easily stretch six months or longer. Proper planning for a TMS implementation is crucial to the project's success. The key is agreeing on a plan with the vendor(s) and sticking to it. Getting the internal stakeholders involved with the process early on will help tremendously. Lastly, make sure that any additional 3rd party participants (hardware vendors, outsourced IT staff, etc.) are also included in the planning and execution.